An online solution to lower post-secondary students91裸聊视频� costs is spreading at Okanagan College.
Professors are helping to turn a new page in the rising costs of post-secondary education by giving students free access to online textbooks. Open Educational Resources 91裸聊视频� also known as OER 91裸聊视频� are high-quality resources, often in the form of open textbooks, are available in digital formats and at a very low cost to print.
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The latest provincial statistics show Okanagan College ranks sixth in the province for open textbook adoption. By fall 2018, the College reported 147 courses that have adopted open textbooks, helping 2,875 students to save $437,212. These numbers are from 95 courses using online texts, impacting 1,673 students with savings of $248,522. Many professors have committed to continue using and expanding their use of online texts at each of the College91裸聊视频檚 campuses in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Salmon Arm.
91裸聊视频淚t is fabulous to see initiatives like this become a reality,91裸聊视频� said Andrew Hay, Okanagan College91裸聊视频檚 Vice President, Education. 91裸聊视频淪tudent success is of the utmost importance to Okanagan College and the combination of better student learning with reduced costs is most welcome.91裸聊视频�
Okanagan School of Business Professor Michael Orwick is one of many professors at the College who has introduced online textbooks to his classes and he can already speak to the educational benefits.
91裸聊视频淕enerally, the first mid-term grades in the Intro to Marketing classes I teach average 57 to 61 per cent,91裸聊视频� said Orwick. 91裸聊视频淭his year, my first mid-term just averaged 73 per cent and I heard from students who said they felt the annotated textbook was a major reason for improved scores.91裸聊视频�
Orwick has supplemented the text he is using 91裸聊视频� Principles of Marketing 91裸聊视频� with his own notes that provide students with additional insights into the subject matter.
91裸聊视频淭he textbook change for this class alone means a savings of $6,000 and every student is guaranteed to be able to get the textbook,91裸聊视频� Orwick said. 91裸聊视频淭here are four sections of this class running this term, so that adds up to $24,000 in savings just for this course. Next semester there may be 12 sections running which amounts to $72,000.91裸聊视频�
The savings fit with the Province91裸聊视频檚 and the College91裸聊视频檚 agenda, as well as the Okanagan College Students91裸聊视频� Union, which presented to the Select Standing Committee on Finances and Government on Sept. 27 about the very issue.
91裸聊视频淭he high cost of textbooks has become a serious obstacle to accessing post-secondary education in B.C.,91裸聊视频� said Jennifer Meyer, 2017-18 OCSU Board Member. 91裸聊视频淭extbook prices rose by 82 per cent between 2002 -2012 and now, typically cost more than $200 per book. For the many students and families already struggling to afford education and the cost of living, this unpredictable expense can be a huge burden, causing students to take on additional debt or work longer hours for their required books.91裸聊视频�
OC student Andre Dominguez is enrolled in Orwick91裸聊视频檚 Marketing class and has experienced the financial help that comes with the advent of online textbooks.
91裸聊视频淭he e-textbook has been a real asset because I can access it anywhere I go, both on mobile or on my laptop, and the fact that it was free is extremely helpful,91裸聊视频� said Dominguez. 91裸聊视频淓xpenses accumulate for college and it takes a toll on your bank account which brings unwanted stress that affects your personal and academic life.91裸聊视频�
E-texts bring serious savings while also offering a custom approach to teaching and learning. P
rofessors can annotate the online texts, leaving detailed notes, highlights, comments and provide specialized information. Students can choose to access the text online or can choose to have it printed from the College91裸聊视频檚 bookstore for just $20.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 such an incredible bonus that my textbook is annotated by my professor,91裸聊视频� said Dominguez.
91裸聊视频淭here is more retention when reading and I know I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be doing as well as I am and learning as much if it wasn91裸聊视频檛 annotated. If every teacher had annotated textbooks, it would help students out very much.91裸聊视频�
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